Green Burials

Vertical Divider

Since the beginning of time families and communities have taken care of the dead in a holistic and natural way. They would simply bath the person, wrap them in a sheet or place them into a locally made pine box and place them into a local graveyard.  The practices that have been used in the past were very practical and they accomplished what was needed to lay someone to rest in peace. At Ancient Burials we can help families accomplish a natural or what is often called a 'Green' burial. 

---

Natural Body Care

Vertical Divider

Our standard process is that we provide natural body preparation for the people we look after. By default we look after the care of the person's body via external care through bathing, looking after the hygienic needs of the person and then complete with dressing and appropriate cosmetics. Each person's care can be customized to their needs via inclusion of using rose water, essential oils or perfumes as well as inclusion of cultural or religious customs. This is our default process, however if the situation dictates or the family requests we can provide embalming and there is no additional fee. 

---

Conscious Products

Vertical Divider

Aside from the person's care an important aspect for achieving a natural send-off are the items/products that are used.  Families should consider the types of clothing the person will be dressed in using natural fibres, or will the person simply be wrapped in our burial shroud? We have locally made eco friendly pine caskets for ease of transport and burial. Maybe your family would like to build your own casket or sew your own burial shroud?

---

Natural Burial Grounds

Vertical Divider

The last main component of achieving a natural send-off is the location of where the burial will take place. There are now several options for natural burial where someone can be laid to rest and return back to creation. These cemeteries usually go through a stringent certification process to ensure a high standard is being met.   

Heritage Gardens- Surrey, BC
https://heritagegardenscemetery.com/green-burial-plots
Heritage Gardens is a new, family-owned-and-operated cemetery; the first of its kind in Metro Vancouver. Situated in the historic Hazelmere area of Surrey, our beautiful and tranquil cemetery provides a perfect gathering place for families both in mourning and in celebrating the life of a loved one.

Chilliwack Cemeteries - Chilliwack, BC
http://www.chilliwackcemeteries.com
Serene, compelling and historical – Chilliwack Cemeteries, operating since 1873, is believed to be the fourth oldest private registered perpetual care cemetery in BC. Our visitors include families visiting loved ones, local artists who come to paint the lush landscape, and historians who seek a connection to the past. 

Mountain View Cemetery- Vancouver, BC
https://vancouver.ca/your-government/arrange-a-burial-or-interment.aspx Vancouver's only cemetery is located west of Fraser St, between 31st Ave and 43rd Ave. Owned and operated by the City of Vancouver since 1886, Mountain View is made up of 106 acres of land with approximately 92,000 grave sites and 145,000 interred remains.

Royal Oak Burial Park- Victoria, BC https://royaloakburialpark.ca/park-features/
Royal Oak Burial Park is the only not-for-profit, community-owned burial park and cremation memorial facility in the Victoria, BC region.

Denman Island Natural Burial Cemetery- Denmen Island, BC http://dinbc.ca​
The Denman Island Memorial Society was formed in 2009 to create and operate a natural burial cemetery on Denman Island, BC.

Nature Grove Green Burial Garden- Parksville, BC  https://www.yatesmemorial.ca/green-burial 
​Nature Grove Green Burials was certified by the Green Burial Society of Canada in November 2018 in the category of Small Cemetery.

The Meadows in Green Acres Memorial Park- Ferndale, Washington https://www.molesfarewelltributes.com/services/green-burial-services/
Moles Farewell Tributes is honored to introduce The Meadow, the first natural burial ground in Western Washington to be certified by the Green Burial Council.
​
First Nations Cemeteries- Across BC
Most First Nation Communities around BC have access to their own cemetery. These are self governed and self managed. As a generalization most of them can accomplish a 'green burial' because they do not have requirements for cement vaults.

Your Local Cemetery- Across BC
Hybrid options can usually occur as well. Though most traditional cemeteries require the use of a vault or liner many will allow for you to modify it so that the shrouded person or casket can be placed in contact with the earth. You simply need to ask and insist on what your goal is.